CYF Partners with FCC for MLK Community Feast

Martin Luther King Weekend was a "day on, not a day off" for the Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) at Holsey Chapel C.M.E. Church. The young people assisted with the Annual Community Feast sponsored by the Fitzgerald Community Club as its service project. The Fitzgerald Community Club hosted the Martin Luther King Celebration on Saturday, January 17 from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m. with a Gospel Fest and the Community Feast on the grounds of the Monitor Center. "We saw this as a time to get others involved in the community, and to serve with people of all ages and backgrounds," says Charles Coney, Director of Christian Education. "The best way for young people to learn about Dr. King’s legacy is to get involved themselves." More details are available at http://my.mlkday.gov/s/cmefitzgerald/index.aspx.

Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield coming to Georgia!!!

Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, general secretary of Christian Education for the CME Church, will be one of the guest facilitators at the Moultrie-McRae-Brunswick Sunday School & Christian Youth Fellowship Convention on April 18th. The mission of the Department is "Making Disciples through events that form and transform." During the session, he will be providing instruction for the Minister's Break-Out Session "Faith That Transforms" using the text: "Christianity for the Rest of Us--How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith" by Diana Butler. Copies may be purchased online from the Holsey Chapel eBookstore. Additionally, he will be the Guest Preacher at Holsey Chapel-Fitzgerald on Sunday, April 19th at 10:30 a.m. Come support this connectional leader.

MMB Christian Education Workshop

The Executive Council of the Moultrie-McRae-Brunswick District Board of Christian Education met on Saturday, January 10th in a Workshop and Planning Session. Rev. Dr. Alfort Belin and the members of Graham Chapel-Quitman hosted the team and others pastors and leaders from across the district. Led by South Georgia Region CED Director Glendora Ryce, topics included, "What is the Board of Christian Educatino? What am I to do? What do you mean by a BIGGER and BETTER Sunday School? and What do you mean by a BIGGER and BETTER CYF Ministry?" Additionally, the team introduced the theme for the upcoming Sunday School & CYF Convention--"Behold, I am Doing A New Thing." The convention will be held on Saturday, April 18th at Holsey Chapel-Fitzgerald.

Holsey Chapel "Day of Service"

During his lifetime, Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to forge common ground on which people from all walks of life could join together as equals to address community issues. Service, he realized, was the great equalizer. As he once said, "Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve." In recognition of that, Congress in 1994 passed Holiday and Service Act. Holsey Chapel participation details available at http://my.mlkday.gov/s/cmefitzgerald/index.aspx and in the attached Press Release (click here for details).

Sunday School--it's for Life!

Week after week, in congregations all over, children, youths and adults gather to find friends, to learn about God, to delve into Scripture and to catch and teach the faith. Is the lesson always wonderful? No. Is the teacher always prepared? The class always engaged? Again, no. But God is always there, yearning to gather us in and to send us out. What would happen if we decided to give Sunday School more attention? This is the vision of our Sunday School "it's for life!" It is our goal to have 75 persons in Sunday School. That means EVERYONE! Join us. Sunday school can make a difference in our church AND YOU can make a difference in our Sunday School (www.cmefitzgerald.org).

Emancipation Proclamation Commemorative Service - "A New Birth of Freedom"

The theme of this year’s Emancipation Proclamation, "A New Birth of Freedom," commemorated the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The words came from the Gettysburg address, and expresses Lincoln’s hope that the sacrifice of those who died to preserve the nation shall lead to "A New Birth of Freedom" for our nation. The theme was quite appropriate given our present day circumstances (nationally and locally), particularly in light of the historic presidential election of Senator Barack Obama. With that in mind, over 250 persons joined together to remember the courage of our past and embrace our future in An All-American Celebration Service held at Union Temple Holiness Church sponsored by the Ben Hill County Civic League. Holsey Chapel Pastor Rev. Dr. Marvin J. Howard, Sr. brought the keynote address, "A Divine Emancipation." Mr. John K. Fletcher is president of the Ben Hill County Civic League. Communications should be directed to benhillcivicleague@gmail.com.

HOPE--January 2009

Welcome to the January 2009 edition of HOPE -- Holsey Chapel CME's Monthly Newsletter. Click here for your copy and please share as we seek to be willing vessels for His service. If you know of others to be added to our email distribution list, please reply with the names to ministry@cmefitzgerald.org. Also, know that you can always find up-to-date information about our church at http://www.cmefitzgerald.org. We look forward to online fellowship with you and yours. Articles included in this month's edition: Emancipation Proclamation - "A New Birth of Freedom"; From the Pastor; Sunday School--it's for Life!; Community Service on King Holiday; Souper Bowl Sunday; CYAM FOCUS Retreat 2009; Maceo C. Pettigrew Historical Library; Student SPOTLIGHT; Chapel Business; "What Sort of New Year's Resolution Should a Christian Make?"